Primary prevention programs aimed at helping adolescents develop personal and social coping skills have received empirical support as methods capable of reducing the incidence of substance use. This study examined the effectiveness of school-based coping skills training with adolescents at high-risk for substance abuse. Students (N=279) at 29 secondary schools participated in the study. The schools were matched in terms of size, racial composition, and percentage of students receiving a free lunch and then were randomly assigned to one of three treatment conditions: (1) school intervention--coping skills training for students plus training for school staff; (2) school plus parent coping skills intervention; and (3) comparison control. Results indicated that students in the coping skills conditions increased their knowledge of the skills; however, positive changes in personality characteristics, substance knowledge, and behavior growth for those in the coping skills training groups did not differ from those for the comparison control group. While these data suggest that preventive intervention can have a positive effect on high risk youth, the role of coping skills training in preventing substance abuse in high risk adolescents remains unclear and is in need of further investigation. (Author/ABL)

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